Coca-Cola Launch their "Thank You" Fund!

Monday, June 02, 2014

We all know how important it is to stay active and there was good news for voluntary and non-profit organisations in NI who want to kick-start new programmes encouraging people to become more active as they could win £20,000* to get them up and running!

Pictured at the launch of the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund held at Lagan Valley Leisureplex are Melanie Nocher, Roy Millar, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Sports Forum and Former Technical Director of the Irish Football Association together with Ailish Forde, Director of Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland.

Five grants totalling more than £100,000 are up for grabs for new sport and physical activity initiatives under the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund ('The Fund') which was launched recently by Roy Millar, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Sports Forum, and former Olympic swimmer Melanie Nocher. Melanie is this year's Ambassador for the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund.

Applications from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland for the Fund are being accepted online until 6pm on the 16th June at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou.

Roy Millar from the Northern Ireland Sports Forum said that the Fund presented a brilliant opportunity for local non-profits to turn inspiration into reality.

"We are calling on community and non-profit organisations alike to share their ideas on how to get Northern Ireland leading a more active lifestyle through sport. We want innovative projects that will grab people's attention and make a difference across local communities in Northern Ireland. The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund can act as a real driving force in terms of bringing such ideas to life so we encourage relevant groups to put their hat in the ring and be part of it."

Fund Ambassador Melanie Nocher urged her followers on Twitter to start thinking of bright ideas that could use funding. She wrote: "What could your non-profit organisation do with a Coca-Cola Thank You Fund grant? See coca-cola.ie/thankyou #MovementIsHappiness."

Olympic Swimmer Melanie Nocher is urging Northern Ireland to dive into action at the launch of this year¹s Coca-Cola Thank You Fund which is committed to getting people up and moving. Five grants totalling more than £100,000 are up for grabs for voluntary and non-profit organisations which want to kick-start new programmes encouraging people to become more active.

"We are delighted to announce the availability of £100,000 in funding for 2014, and welcome voluntary and non-profit organisations to apply online at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou. The Fund is looking for creative and engaging approaches to getting people moving through sport and activity based programmes. We want to capture the imagination of those who may not incorporate a great deal of physical exercise into their routines at the moment by providing them with new ways of getting active. Now is the time to start thinking about what your organisation could do with our support to mobilise the people of Northern Ireland towards greater levels of movement" said Ailish Forde, Director, Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland.

Representatives from the Northern Ireland Sports Forum, the Federation of Irish Sport and other sporting organisations from the Republic of Ireland together with a representative from Coca-Cola Hellenic Ireland will form part of this year's judging panel.

The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund was launched in 2011 and has so far distributed more than £300,000 in grants. This year's funding total of more than £100,000 will bring the amount donated through the Fund to in excess of £400,000.